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'Fake' Sheikh of shock

But now to more serious matters and a self-styled Australian 'Muslim leader' whom some in the media can't get enough of.

BRYAN SEYMOUR: Within seconds, Imam Tawhidi's first visit to the Muslim heartland of western Sydney was met with abuse.

(Man abusing)

BRYAN SEYMOUR: What does that mean?

IMAM TAWHIDI: It means may God curse you, you pig, you dog.

— Channel Seven News, 1 May, 2017

So, who is this man, and why were locals in Sydney's Lakemba so outraged?

Well, Mohammad Tawhidi, who describes himself as an Imam of Peace is tabloid TV's Muslim of choice and a hero to conservatives, thanks to comments like this three weeks ago, on Sky's Outsiders:

MOHAMMAD TAWHIDI: If we had politicians like Pauline Hanson in Iraq, my home town, we wouldn't have had ISIS come in.

— Sky News Outsiders, 30 April, 2017

Tawhidi who set up and heads the Islamic Association of South Australia was propelled to fame last year by Today Tonight as the quote 'Sheikh of Shock', after he called on fellow Muslims to speak out against terrorism:

MOHAMMAD TAWHIDI: I'm scared from terrorism as well. Me and my people are the victims of ISIS. Of course I'm scared.

— Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 22 August, 2016

But he caused an even bigger stir when he claimed, again on Today Tonight, that Islamic extremists were planning to set up a Caliphate in Australia and rename local streets after murdering Islamists:

IMAM TAWHIDI: It's to create another country or another government within the Australian government. That's what I believe is their agenda, these extreme Muslims.

— Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 27 February, 2017

The chance of that happening? Around about zero.

But that didn't stop Tawhidi telling Andrew Bolt, how unpleasant the caliphate's punishments would be, especially for Australian Muslims who cheated on their taxes:

MOHAMMAD TAWHIDI: ... They put his head in a pot, they cook it, they eat it, then they rape his wife that same night ...

— The Bolt Report, 29 March, 2017

So, was that a cue for the media to stop taking him seriously? Not at all.

Despite his outlandish claims, Tawhidi has been built up by the media as a good Muslim, the acceptable face of Islam.

Making headlines for suggesting that Halal certification threatens the Australian way of life.

Or for supporting Pauline Hanson's call for a ban on Muslim immigration.

Or for backing Ayaan Hirsi Ali's call to forcibly shut down all Muslim schools and colleges in Australia.

Predictably, these pronouncements have made him plenty of enemies and at least as many friends:

BEN FORDHAM: Well, what about your response to my interview with Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi? A massive reaction, because he's such a breath of fresh air. He's gone into hiding due to fears that he could be targeted by Islamic extremists, and he's drawn attention for his opinions which some think are controversial, but really, it's just common sense isn't it?

— Ben Fordham, Sydney Live, 10 April, 2017

Common sense to some, perhaps, but not to most Australian Muslims, who are not extremists, yet want to keep the things they hold dear, like their own schools, their freedom of movement, their own certified food.

And their own sacred texts, one of which Tawhidi told Andrew Bolt he wants banned.

ANDREW BOLT: The holiest text outside of the Quran, you think ditch it?

MOHAMMAD TAWHIDI: Ditch it and ban it, and it should be illegal to have this book. Let me read for you ...

ANDREW BOLT: How do you know, I'm just wondering when you go and say things like that, how popular are you in the Muslim community?

MOHAMMAD TAWHIDI: I'm not popular at all because they don't like this.

— The Bolt Report, 29 March, 2017

Tawhidi is particularly unpopular with Sunni Muslims, because it's their book he wants banned.

Tawhidi, you see, is a Shia Muslim, and traditionally an age-old enemy.

Indeed, he told Ben Fordham on 2GB last month that Sunni leaders in Australia:

MOHAMMAD TAWHIDI: They just want to live like how Muslims lived in the caves 1400 years ago

— Ben Fordham, Sydney Live, 10 April, 2017

Tawhidi has also attacked Sunnis on Facebook, calling their sacred texts 'monkey teachings' and describing Sunnis as 'followers of an alcoholic, rapist caliph'.

Tweets in his name have been even more abusive and obscene although Tawhidi claims they are fake.

Meanwhile, Australia's Imams' Council has told One Path Network that Tawhidi is a Fake Sheikh and not a genuine Imam.

But the media doesn't seem bothered by all this, because as Chloe Patton, an expert on Muslim studies observes, the Sheikh of Shock is just too good to pass up.

I think it's the theatre of it - he dresses up in fancy robes, he says these quite incredible things and presents himself as the insider with special insider knowledge.

He appeals to anyone who has a problem with Islam, it basically confirms a lot of conspiracy theories - that Muslims are up to no good and some of the things they hold dear are meaningless.

— Chloe Patton, Former Research Fellow, Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding, University of South Australia, 18 May, 2017

Now we're not saying Tawhidi has no right to his opinions.

But the media really should not be giving him a megaphone.

Nor should they be presenting him as a voice of reason and the Imam of Peace, when it's clear that some of his views are divisive, offensive, abusive and just plain crazy.